Don't defame Hindutva in Pansare case probe, says Shiv Sena

Mumbai: The ongoing probe in the Govind Pansare murder case should not become a context for maligning Hindutva, the Shiv Sena today said while holding that the accusations against right wing outfit Sanatan Sanstha, under scanner in the case, are 'laughable.'

"Samir Gaikwad has been associated with the Sanstha and has been involved in its religious activities and thus, without investigation, people are demanding that he be hanged for his crime. All this is laughable and has lifted the veil from those who call themselves progressive," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.

"A person belonging to the Sanstha was arrested on suspicion and investigation was also done thinking that the organisation is responsible for Pansare's murder. Creating such an atmosphere has given a leeway to the actual murderers of Pansare and Dabholkar. An investigation must be done and the truth must be out, but Hindutva should not be defamed," it said.

The saffron party also said that though it does not agree with Pansare's views, his murder is condemnable. "Though we do not agree with Pansare's views, we condemn his murder in the strongest possible way. Not only Pansare, but murdering any senior citizen is inhuman and an act of cowardice," it said.

But the Sena also said that people sharing Pansare's views have chiselled the idea of Hindutva in a way where it will not be affected by criticism anymore. Hitting out at Congress for demanding a ban on the right wing outfit, the Sena said, after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declassified the files related to Subhash Chandra Bose, "it has now been proved that the Congress played an instrumental role in not revealing the cause of his death and sought to know if the party should be banned for this.

"Should the Congress too be banned for this sin of theirs? In Kashmir separatists and anti-India organisations want to kill Hindus. Nobody is talking about a ban on these organisations and political parties," it said.